On Tuesday, May 6, two candidates for the Intendencia faced off in a debate prior to the departmental elections: María de Lima for the Partido Nacional and Nicolás Viera for the Frente Amplio, in Colonia.
The main topics of the debate were: Management, employment, tourism, decentralization, investments, taxes, and public safety.
Both candidates expressed a critical stance toward the current administration of the Colonia government. María de Lima, although sharing the political affiliation of the ruling party, highlighted her critical approach focused on the citizens' well-being, stating: "In Colonia, people must be the priority." Additionally, using her campaign slogan "Wake up Colonia," she pointed out that the department is currently "stagnant."
Regarding taxes, a concern for the inhabitants of Colonia, De Lima questioned Viera referring to his government plan, where it mentions: "Reevaluate and improve fiscal policies to increase municipal revenues," suggesting a possible intention to raise taxes.
Viera, meanwhile, appeared puzzled and denied such a proposal, revealing a lack of knowledge of his own program. In contrast, De Lima committed to not increasing the tax burden for those who already make a daily effort, declaring: "The government must demand less from taxpayers and demand more from itself." She also proposed reducing the fiscal pressure on local investors, considering them key to generating stable employment in the department.
Referring to her experience in the OPP, De Lima emphasized the importance of strengthening municipalities so they work not only in urban areas but also in rural ones, an area not yet addressed by the municipality. This proposal is part of her vision of decentralization to lead the commune.
Regarding tourism, another topic discussed, De Lima criticized that Colonia, having the port with the highest influx of tourists in the country, fails to retain visitors, who "pass by." Her goal is to position the department as a key destination in tourist itineraries.
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María de Lima: Career and proposals
María de Lima, a prominent figure of the Partido Nacional, has built a solid political career in Colonia, marked by her management as mayor of Nueva Helvecia (2010-2020), where she promoted local development and chaired the Plenary Table of Mayors of Uruguay.
During Luis Lacalle Pou's government, she assumed in 2020 as director of Decentralization and Social Cohesion in the Office of Planning and Budget (OPP), designing policies to strengthen departmental and municipal governments.
María de Lima focused her speech on transparency, decentralization, and economic development through tourism. Her proposals reflect a focus on efficient management and closeness to citizens, with an emphasis on fiscal responsibility. Among her main proposals are:
Reduction of taxes and fiscal responsibility: De Lima reiterated her commitment to alleviating the tax burden on Colonia residents, ensuring that "the money belongs to the Colonia resident, not the politicians." She proposed transparent management of public resources to regain citizens' trust.
Promotion of tourism as an economic engine: The candidate highlighted Colonia's potential as a tourist destination, proposing policies to boost this sector, such as improving infrastructure and promoting the Historic Quarter, but also extending tourism development to other areas of the department.
Decentralization and strengthening of municipalities: De Lima emphasized that municipalities are "the first link of contact with the neighbor." She proposed optimizing resources and giving greater autonomy to local governments to address the specific needs of each community.
